Wisdom 7

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 I too am mortal like everyone else, a descendant of the first man formed from the earth. I was model edin flesh inside a mother's womb,	1 I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth,
2 where, for ten months, in blood I acquired substance -- the result of virile seed and pleasure, sleep'scompanion.	2 And in my mother's womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time of ten months, being compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure that came with sleep.
3 I too, when I was born, drew in the common air, I fel on the same ground that bears us al , and cryingwas the first sound I made, like everyone else.	3 And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.
4 I was nurtured in swaddling clothes, with every care.	4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares.
5 No king has known any other beginning of existence;	5 For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.
6 for there is only one way into life, and one way out of it.	6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.
7 And so I prayed, and understanding was given me; I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.	7 Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
8 I esteemed her more than sceptres and thrones; compared with her, I held riches as nothing.	8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.
9 I reckoned no precious stone to be her equal, for compared with her, al gold is a pinch of sand, andbeside her, silver ranks as mud.	9 Neither compared I unto her any precious stone, because all gold in respect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her.
10 I loved her more than health or beauty, preferred her to the light, since her radiance never sleeps.	10 I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth out.
11 In her company al good things came to me, and at her hands incalculable wealth.	11 All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands.
12 All these delighted me, since Wisdom brings them, though I did not then realise that she was theirmother.	12 And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them.
13 What I learned diligently, I shal pass on liberally, I shal not conceal how rich she is.	13 I learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches.
14 For she is to human beings an inexhaustible treasure, and those who acquire this win God'sfriendship, commended to him by the gifts of instruction.	14 For she is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.
15 May God grant me to speak as he would wish and conceive thoughts worthy of the gifts I havereceived, since he is both guide to Wisdom and director of sages;	15 God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me: because it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise.
16 for we are in his hand, yes, ourselves and our sayings, and al intellectual and al practical knowledge.	16 For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship.
17 He it was who gave me sure knowledge of what exists, to understand the structure of the world andthe action of the elements,	17 For he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the elements:
18 the beginning, end and middle of the times, the alternation of the solstices and the succession of theseasons,	18 The beginning, ending, and midst of the times: the alterations of the turning of the sun, and the change of seasons:
19 the cycles of the year and the position of the stars,	19 The circuits of years, and the positions of stars:
20 the natures of animals and the instincts of wild beasts, the powers of spirits and human mentalprocesses, the varieties of plants and the medical properties of roots.	20 The natures of living creatures, and the furies of wild beasts: the violence of winds, and the reasonings of men: the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots:
21 And now I understand everything, hidden or visible, for Wisdom, the designer of all things, hasinstructed me.	21 And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know.
22 For within her is a spirit intel igent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, incisive, unsul ied, lucid,invulnerable, benevolent, shrewd,	22 For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,
23 irresistible, beneficent, friendly to human beings, steadfast, dependable, unperturbed, almighty, al -surveying, penetrating al intel igent, pure and most subtle spirits.	23 Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.
24 For Wisdom is quicker to move than any motion; she is so pure, she pervades and permeates allthings.	24 For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness.
25 She is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; so nothing impurecan find its way into her.	25 For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.
26 For she is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God's active power, and image of hisgoodness.	26 For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.
27 Although she is alone, she can do everything; herself unchanging, she renews the world, and,generation after generation, passing into holy souls, she makes them into God's friends and prophets;	27 And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets.
28 for God loves only those who dwel with Wisdom.	28 For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.
29 She is indeed more splendid than the sun, she outshines al the constel ations; compared with light,she takes first place,	29 For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.
30 for light must yield to night, but against Wisdom evil cannot prevail.	30 For after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.